Stevens Point, Wisc., August 1, 2017 —The Portage County Breastfeeding Coalition and Portage County CAN are celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with a campaign to raise funds for breastfeeding scarfs.
Throughout the month of August, community members will be encouraged to engage with the Breastfeeding Coalition on Facebook and donate to the Scarves-for-Moms Campaign. For a $5 donation, individuals can donate the fabric needed to create one breastfeeding-friendly scarf for a mom in need. Members of the ADRC Volunteer Program, Silver Threads program, will sew the scarves.
“These scarves will help new moms pump and breastfeed with style and comfort.,” said Mary Droske, Community Health Nurse and volunteer with the Breastfeeding Resource Assistance and the Portage County Breastfeeding Coalition, “While Breastfeeding may occur in any public space without a cover, some women feel more comfortable breastfeeding with a drape. These scarves serve that purpose and are intended to help reduce the barrier to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding for those women.”
The World-Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants for at least the first 6 months of life. Breastfeeding is globally recognized as a poverty-prevention strategy; leading to healthier outcomes for both infants and mothers.
“Breastfeeding can often be challenging for new moms, and having a supportive family, workplace, and community can really mean a lot!” said Local Mom and Volunteer with the Breastfeeding Coalition, Katy Gottwald, “If a woman chooses to use a nursing cover, these donated wraps available through the Breastfeeding Resources Assistance program will be a great resource for her to have.”
Donations can be made online at
https://squareup.com/store/portage-county-breastfeeding-coalition . Proceeds will go towards purchasing the fabric needed to create the breastfeeding-friendly scarfs.
The Portage County Breastfeeding Coalition is part of Portage County Can (PC CAN). PC CAN builds networks and resources to foster active living and healthy eating behaviors in Portage
County. Our vision is to engage Portage County in being the healthiest community in the state. Visit www.portagecountycan.org for more information.